John & Anne Marion: On Eisenhower, Art and the American West

As a rancher, businesswoman and philanthropist, Anne
Marion cherishes her West Texas roots, as both she and
husband, John are committed to the western lifestyle
and the preservation of western heritage. Anne fondly remembers
the time spent on her family’s ranch in Guthrie, Texas and calls
growing up there “the most important thing that ever happened
to me. It kept my feet on the ground more than anything else.”

So it is not surprising that when John and Anne Marion took
the reins of a recent Eisenhower Medical Center fundraiser it
ended up having an authentic western theme. The March 2007
event, which included a movie premier and an intimate concert
performance by Country Music Association Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn, was created, organized and underwritten by
John and Anne, long-time supporters of the hospital. Thanks to
the Marion’s generosity, the event raised $1.55 million for
Campaign Eisenhower Phase Two, which will help complete the
construction of the 160-bed Walter and Leonore Annenberg
Pavilion, the 24-suite Stacey and Greg Renker Pavilion, the
Tennity Emergency Department and other expansions. “It is
vitally important for an area such as this to have a place like
Eisenhower Medical Center,” says John, a member of
Eisenhower’s Board of Trustees. “A large percentage of this
community spends 40, even 50 percent of their lives here in the
desert. Health care is extremely important, especially when
you’re away from home or in a place you reside only part of the
year. The people of this area have something in Eisenhower they
can really depend on.”

Anne and John both admit that their personal health and the
health of their 19 year marriage has remained strong through
laughter and working on meaningful projects together. Anne’s
mother first introduced the couple. “It was a rather unusual way
to meet, but when Anne’s mother found out that she was very
ill, she wanted to put her affairs in order, and part of that was
her art collection. I was president and chairman of Sotheby’s at
the time,” explains John. “I was asked if I would be prepared to
go to Texas and talk to Anne’s mother. I did go, and we hit it off.
Anne’s mother then mentioned to me that I needed to meet her
daughter because when she goes, Anne is not going to know
what she is doing. This is still one of the great jokes between
Anne and me, because Anne always knows exactly what she is
doing all
the time! At any rate, the next day, the three of us had
lunch together, and I met Anne.”

That was in 1978. Anne’s mother passed away in 1980, and
while Anne and John met as friends and did some business
together regarding her mother’s collection, their association
politely ended there. Then in 1986, the two met for a dinner
date. “That is when I stopped thinking of her as a client,”
remembers John. “I often wonder about Anne’s mother and
what she would say if she was looking down on us now. I think
she would be pleased. I know our marriage has been the greatest
thing in my life.”

Anne and
John’s love of art, travel and the American West has taken them
on some fascinating journeys together. Anne’s interest in
the arts started early. “I’ve just always been interested in art.
My mother had quite a nice collection of German expressionists.
I grew up around it, and I was an art history major.”
Adds John, “Art plays such a valuable role in this world —
it is civilization speaking to us.”

Anne is proud of her work as the head of the building
committee for the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The new
structure, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, has
53,000 square feet of gallery space. Massive planar walls of
architectural concrete and 45-foot high transparent walls of
glass framed in metal provide excellent viewing and circulation
around the structure. “I traveled to Japan to see all of Ando’s
work,” recalls Anne. “It was wonderful being part of this project.
It is a remarkable building.”

Also close to the Marion’s hearts is the Georgia O’Keeffe
Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It used to be that travelers to
the area were often disappointed to find only a few works of the
celebrated artist, who called New Mexico home for nearly 40
years, at the local Museum of Fine Art, a state-run museum.
With a few O’Keeffes in their collection, the Marions were
approached by a retailer, fellow Texan and part-time Santa Fe
resident, Stanley Marcus. “Stanley came to visit us, and asked if
Anne would lend some of her paintings to the museum and donate money to create an area dedicated to the work of
Georgia O’Keeffe,” explains John.

Anne considered Stanley’s offer and came back a couple
days later with an idea of her own. “I wanted to do something different. I
wanted a private museum and I wanted to dedicate it to the work of Georgia
O’Keeffe,” says Anne. Stanley reminded the Marions of the expense of such an
endeavor. Passionate about the concept, Anne and John dipped into their own
pockets and hired an architect to renovate the existing 10,000 square-foot adobe
building. On July 17, 1997 the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum opened with a makeshift
staff and 94 O’Keeffes. Today, it is Santa Fe’s most popular art museum, and
this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. “We’ve had over two million visitors
and there are now more than 2,000 works in the collection. There is also a
research center that does scholarly pursuits and develops symposiums. It is a
living, breathing institution that has new exhibitions all the time, which deal
with American Modernism. It really is one of the accomplishments we’re most
proud of,” says Anne. (See Get Up & Go
on the O'Keeffe Museium.)

Common interests, a down-to-earth sensibility and a rich
sense of humor have helped John and Anne Marion enjoy a life
full of good health, and the things they love and hold the most
dear. “I am very proud of some of the things that have been
accomplished during the time that we have been married,” says
John. “It has been a very good strong combination of two
people supporting each other. I think we have been able to
accomplish some pretty special things.”